Ronaldinho, the man whose arrival at Barcelona forced Riqueleme out, was essentially past his best at 28. His body could no longer do what the head and feet wanted, while fewer and fewer managers were willing to put up with his lack of fitness.

Kaka, whose approach to the game couldn’t have been further away from Ronaldinho’s, was largely a failure at Real Madrid. Ironically, Kaka’s various injuries led Madrid to sign Ozil in 2010. Even when the Brazilian was fit he was no longer the first-choice playmaker.

Wesley Sneijder was arguably the best player in the world in 2010. Just two years later he’d been sold by Inter Milan to Galatasaray amidst contractual unrest.

Even Francesco Totti only played more than 30 league games across a season five times during his 25-year career.

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